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An 18-item standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-AQLQ(S)

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-AQLQ(S) in a sample of 160 Greek patients with asthma. Following evidence for sample-specific validity, the AQLQ(S) model was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. An 18-item AQLQ(S) with the four factors of symptoms, activity limitations, sleep, and exposure in environmental stimuli fits the data (χ2/df ratio = 2.26, NNFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.94, SRMR = 0.05). The 18-item AQLQ(S) showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach’ a coefficient ranged from 0.83 to 0.96) and high 9-week test-retest reliability (overall r = 0.88, ICC = 0.94). Responsiveness was confirmed throughout 2X2 ANOVA and 2X2 MANOVA, with respect to the total score (F = 42.30, P < 0.05), and the four AQLQ(S) factors (Wilks’ λ = 0.68, F = 17.59, P < 0.05). The cross-sectional correlations between the 18-item AQLQ(S) and the: (1) FEV1% predicted and (2) Borg scale were low and moderately high, respectively. In conclusion, the 18-item AQLQ(S) derived from exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis appeared to have sufficient construct validity, cross-sectional validity, responsiveness, satisfactory test-retest reliability and internal consistency evidence for the Greek sample of adults with asthma.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the clinical staff of the asthma department of the Amalia Fleming Hospital in Athens, Greece, and the patients for their valuable contribution and participation in the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Eirini Grammatopoulou, Emmanouil Skordilis & Dimitra Koutsouki

  2. School of Nurse, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    George Baltopoulos

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  1. Eirini Grammatopoulou
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  2. Emmanouil Skordilis
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  3. Dimitra Koutsouki
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  4. George Baltopoulos
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Correspondence to Eirini Grammatopoulou.

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Grammatopoulou, E., Skordilis, E., Koutsouki, D. et al. An 18-item standardized Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-AQLQ(S). Qual Life Res 17, 323–332 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9297-y

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